Fire-extinguisher



G. T. PEARSONS.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I9, 1918.

1,363,009. Patented Dec. 21, 1920. v

I NVENTOR UNITED STATES GEORGE TAYLOR PEAR/SONS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

Application filed February 19, 1918.

T 0 all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, GEORGE T. PEARSONS,

"a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough ofManhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvemerits in F ire-Extinguishers, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to fire extinguishers in which a fireextinguishing material, such as carbon-tetrachlorid, or a compoundthereof, contained in a reservoir, is expelled therefrom by a gaspressure created in a generator in the reservoir by the uniting of gasgenerating materials, and relates to this type of extinguisher in whicha receptacle carrying a gas generating material, such as an acid, iscarried in the generating chamber' andwhen it is desired to use theextinguisher the gas generating material in the receptacle is caused tounite with another gas generating material, such as bicarbonate of soda,carried in the generating chamber, and it is the primary object of thein vention to provide a fire extinguisher of this character which isparticularly adapted for use on water craft and air craft where theextinguisher during the operation of such craft is subjected to variablepositions.

In certain of the foregoing type of extinguishers the gas generatingmaterials are normally prevented from uniting by providing the acidreceptacle with a stopper which is removable by the inverting of theextinguisher to permit the acid to flow from the receptacle and unitewith the soda, and in other types of extinguishers the one gasgenerating material, suc as the acid, is carried in a frangible bottlewhich is ruptured or broken by means operable from the exterior of thereservoir. In certain types of these extinguishers the outlet of thegenerating chamber into the reservoir is provided with a check valve,but the use of such a valve is not feasible due to the corrosive actionof the chemicals of the fire extinguisher upon the valve. In others anopen outlet to the reservoir is provided, but in the use of this lattertype upon water or air craft the varying changes in the position of suchcraft causes a splashing of the fire extinguishing liquid in thereservoir with the result that the same enters the outlet of thegenerating chamber and is absorbed by the bicarbonate of soda causing adeteriorationof such material. It is an object of the invention toSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21,- 1920.

Serial No. 218,065.

overcome the above disadvantages by providing a sealed cartridge havingmeans to carry gas generating materials in a separated condition thereinin all positions of the extinguisher and to provide a carrier for saidcartridge in the reservoir, which is in the nature of a generatingchamber, having a clear outlet passage to'the reservoir, together withmeans to rupture the cartridge and cause the gas generating-materials toLmite.

In the use of a plunger, usually mounted in a removable cover for anopening in the reservoir, to rupture or break a receptacle containing agas generating material, in a pressure type of-fire extinguisher asabove set forth, considerable difficulty is experienced inpreventingleakage of the expelling pressure through the mounting of suchplunger, and it is-a further object of the invention to provide means toseal the mounting of the plunger from the generated pressure and preventthe escape/of the expelling pressure through the plunger mounting.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specificationthere is shown in sectional side elevation a fire extinguisher embodyingmy invention.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawing there is provideda reservoirto contain fire extinguishing liquid, such as carbontetrachlorid'or a compound thereof, said reservoir comprising acylindrical body portion 2 having a head 3 at one end. constituting thetop of the reservoir, with an opening in the head closed by a removablecover 4, and a bottom 5 fixed to the body portion to close said end andpreferably constructed in the form of a supporting standard or base forthe extinguisher.

The liquid is discharged or ejected from the reservoir through an outlettube 6 having an inlet from adjacent the bottom of the reservoir with acheck valve 7 opening outward from and closing into the reservoir, saidtube leading to the exterior of the reservoir adjacent the top with aflexible hose 8 connected to said tube having a nozzle 9 connectedthereto.

The fire extinguishing liquid is expelled from the reservoir by a gaspressure generated in a generator in the reservoir by the uniting of gasgenerating materials which are normally maintained in a separatedcondition, such as bicarbonate of soda and sulfuric or hydrochloricacid. To maintain these materials in a separated condition and free ofthe fire extinguishing liquid they are carried in what is termed a gasgenerating charge carrying cartridge, comprising her metically sealedreceptacles 10 and 11 one within the other. The acid is carried in thereceptacle 10, said receptacle being made of frangible material, such asglass, and is of a form as shown with the side wall converging fromopposite ends to midway of the receptacle substantially in the form ofan hour glass, with the material of the receptacle at the convergingside preferably made of less thickness than the remaining portion of thereceptacle at the ends. The receptacle 11 is preferably of sheet metaland carries the bicarbonate of soda surrounding or packed around theacid receptacle substantially as shown, said sheet metal receptaclehaving one end closed and hermetically sealed by a material, such as tagers tin, to permit of the ready rupturing thereof.

The gas generating charge carrying cartridge is carried in an open endedreceptacle 12, which is in the nature of a generating chamber, havingscrew threads at the open end to cooperate with internal screw threadson an annular depending flange 13 of the cover to detachably secure thesame thereto, to permit of the removal of the receptacle with the coveras the latter is removed from the head of the reservoir, and the readyremoval of the receptacle 12 from the cover for the purpose ofsubstituting or renewing cartridges. The outlet of the re ceptacle 12into the reservoir is through a port 20 in a siphon tube 21 located in apocket or portion 22 extending from the bottom of the receptacle, theinlet end 23 of which tube is located adjacent the bottom of the pocketand the outlet leading through the bottom of the pocket for a purpose tobe hereinafter described.

The gas generating materials in the cartridge arecaused to mix or uniteby the rupturing of the receptacles 10 and 11, and for this purposethere is provided a plunger 15 mounted in the cover 4 to havelongitudinal movement imparted thereto from the exterior of thereservoir, and shown as having a threaded connection with the cover.

A diaphragm 16 is interposed between the end of the plunger and thereceptacle 1.2 and fixed in a suitable manner as by clamping thediaphragm at the peripheral portion between an annular seat formed atthe base of the screw threads of the annular flange 13 of the cover anda clamping ring 17 and then soldering. This diaphragm serves as aclosure for the receptacle 12 and prevents access of the generated gasesto the plunger mounting in the cover with-the possibility of escape ofthe generagainst the taggers tin end of the receptacle 11 of thecartridge which movement of the abutment is permissible due to theflexibility of the diaphragm. The abutment 18 preferably is of angularshape in cross section with the sides converging to a point withlongitudinal flutes in the sides, whereby it will readily pierce andrupture the taggers tin end of the receptacle. Upon the rupturing ofsaid end of the cartridge the abutment will engage the acid receptacle10 and the pressure of the plunger will impact the abutment against theacid receptacle rupturing or breaking it at the weakened and constrictedportion with the consequent uniting of the acid with the soda and thegeneration of gas, which gas passes out through the ruptured taggers tinend of the outer receptacle of the cartridge into the receptacle 12.

The outer receptacle 11 of the cartridge is of less diameter than theinternal diameter of the cartridge carrier 12, and it will be obviousthat the fire extinguishing liquid will pass through the siphon tubeinto the pocket 22 of the receptacle 12 to at least partially fill thelatter; as the generated gas passes through the ruptured taggers tin endit enters into the receptacle 12 and passes through the-space betweenthe walls of the receptacle 12 and the cartridge and operates to expelany liquid in the receptacle 12 through the siphon tube until such timeas the port 20 in said tube is uncovered by the liquid when the gas willpass through said perforation directly into the reservoir. It ispossible that as the gas generating materials unite a portion of theresultant mixture may be thrown off with the generated gas. However,such mixture of the gas generating materials is of less specific gravitythan the fire extinguishing liquid and will remain on the surface ofsuch liquid which may be in the receptacle 12 and will become pocketedin the portion of the pocket 22 below the siphon perforation 20 whensuch perforation is uncovered preventing the discharge of such residueinto the fire extinguishing liquid in the reservoir and the dischargethereof with such liquid. The discharge of such residue is notdetrimental to the extinguishing of fires, but it would be destructiveof such articles as wearing apparel, draperies and the like with whichit might come in contact, While the fire extinguishing liquid will notaffect such articles.

It will be Obvious that by the use of the hermetically sealed gasgenerating charge carrying cartridge set forth that the extinguisher maybe moved to variable positions and inverted Without any possibility ofthe materials uniting, or the fire extinguishing liquid coming incontact with such materials and the possible deterioration of the same;and that when it is de sired to utilize the extinguisher the cartridgemay be readily ruptured and the gas generating materials caused tounite. Furthermore by the use of the diaphragm the possibility ofleakage of the generated gas and the consequent loss of the expellingpressure through the mounting of the plunger is obviated. The cartridgeis supported in the receptacle 12 upon projections 14 to provide a spacefor the passage of the gas to the pocket 22.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 7

1. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir to containfire extinguishing liquid and having an opening; a removable cover forthe opening; a plunger carried by the cover; a receptacle open at oneend carried by the cover having an outlet into the reservoir; acartridge in the receptacle carrying gas generating materials in aseparated condition; and means interposed between the open end ot' thereceptacle and cover to seal the plunger from the receptacle, said meansbeing operable by the plunger and having means to rupture the cartridgefor the purpose specified.

2. In a fire extinguisher, the combination oi a reservoir to containfire extinguishing liquid and having an opening and 'a discharge outlet;a cover for the opening; a cartridge to carry gas generating materialsin a separated condition; a closed carrier for said cartridge having aflexible closure at one end and an outlet opening into the reservoir andarranged to be suspended from the cover; and a plunger operable to flexthe closure to rupture the cartridge to cause the gas generatingmaterials to unite and generate gas for the purpose specified.

3. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir to containfire extinguishing liquid. and having an opening and a dischargeout-let; a cover for said opening, a cartridge comprising sealedreceptacles one Within the other and carrying gas generating materials;a carrier for said cartridge having a flexible closure at one endsuspended from the cover in the reservoir and having an outlet openinginto the reservoir; and a plunger operable to rupture the receptacles ofthe cartridge through movement impart ed thereby to the flexible closureto cause the.

gas generating materials to unite and generate gas for the purposespecified.

4. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir to containfire extinguishing liquid and having an opening and a discharge outlet;a cover for the opening, a cartridge to carry gas generating materialsin a separated condition, comprising a sealed receptacle of frangiblematerial converging from both ends to the center to carry one of the gasgenerating materials, and a second sealed receptacle having a rupturableclosure in which the first receptacle is inclosed and carrying anothergas generating material; a closed receptacle to carry said cartridgehaving a flexible closure arranged to be connected to the cover to besuspended therefrom in the reservoir and having an outlet opening intothe reservoir; and a plunger carried by the reservoir cover operable toflex the flexible closure to rupture the receptacles of the cartridge tocause the gas generating materials to unite and generate gas for thepurpose specified.

5. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir for a fireextinguishing liquid and having a discharge outlet; a receptacle havingan open end and supportedirom its open end in the reservoir and thesupport serving as a closure for said open end, said receptacle havingan outlet into the reservoir; a cartridge to carry gas generatingmaterials in separated condition carried Within said receptacle, saidcartridge comprising a sealed receptacle of frangible material to carryan acid, and a second. sealed receptacle in which the first receptacleis inclosed and carrying a dry substance packed around the acidreceptacle; a plunger car ried by the reservoir operable to rupture bothreceptacles of the cartridge; and a diaphragm interposed between the endof the receptacle and plunger for the purpose specified. v

6. In a fire extinguisher, the combination. of a reservoir to containfire extinguishing liquid having an opening and a discharge outlet; acover for the reservoir opening; a cartridge to carry gas generatingmaterials in a separated condition comprising sealed receptacles oneWithin the other and each carrying a gas generating material; an openend receptacle connected to the cover and the latterserving as a closurefor the open end of the receptacle to support the cartridge in thereservoir and having an outlet into the reservoir; and plunger actuatedmeans carried by the reservoir cover operable to rupture the receptaclesot the cartridge for the purpose specified.

7. In a fire extinguisher. the combination of a reservoir to containfire extinguishing liquid having an opening and a discharge outlet;acover for the reservoir opening; a

gas generator comprising an open end receptacle connected to the covercarrying gas generating materials in separate sealed receptacles thereinand having an outlet opening into the reservoir; a plunger carried bythe reservoir cover to have longitudinal movement and operable from theexterior of the reservoir to rupture the gas-generating materialcarrying receptacles in the generator; and means to seal the plungerfrom the generated gas for the purpose specified.

8. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir to containfire extinguishing liquid having an opening and a discharge.

outlet; a gas generator comprising an open end receptacle suspended fromthe cover carrying gas generating materials in separate sealedreceptacles therein and having an outlet opening into the reservoir; aplunger carried by the reservoir cover to have longitudinal movement andoperable from the exterior of the reservoir; and a diaphragm interposedbetween the generator and plunger to seal the plunger from the generatorand the generated gas; and said plunger through the diaphragm beingoperable to rupture the gas-generating material carrying receptacles inthe generator, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir to containfire extinguishing liquid and having an outlet; a receptacle having anopen. end whereby it is adapted to be detachably secured to a support inthe reservoir, said receptacle having a port opening into the reservoir;a diaphragm interposed between the open end of the receptacle and itssupport; a cartridge carrying gas generating materials one sealed fromthe other; and a plunger at the side of the diaphragm opposite to thereceptacle operable to rupture the cartridge for the purpose specified.

10. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir to containfire extinguishing material and having an outlet; a receptacle having anopen end whereby it is adapted to be detachably secured to a support inthe reservoir, said receptacle having a port opening into the reservoir;a diaphragm interposed between the open end of the recep tacle and itssupport; a cartridge carrying gas generating materials one sealed fromthe other; a plunger at the side of the diaphragm opposite to thereceptacle; and an abutment at the side of the diaphragm opposite to theplunger and operable by the plunger through the diaphragm to rupture thecartridge for the purpose specified.

11. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir to containfire extinguishing material having a discharge outlet and an opening; aremovable cover for the opening, said cover having an annular flangeadapted to be located within the reservoir; a receptacle having an openend adapted to be detachably secured to the cover flange and having aport opening into the reservoir; a diaphragm interposed between thecover flange and open end of the receptacle and serve as a closure forthe receptacle; a sealed cartridge in the receptacle carrying gasgenerating materials in a separated condition; and a plunger mounted inthe cover at the side of the diaphragm opposite to the receptacleoperable to rupture the cartridge to cause the gas generating materialsto finite and generate gas for the purpose speci- 12. In a fireextinguisher, the combination of a reservoir to contain fireextinguishing material having a discharge outlet and an opening; aremovable cover for the opening, said cover having an annular flangeadapted to be located Within the reservoir; a receptacle having anopenend adapted to be detachably secured to the cover flange and havinga port opening into the reservoir; a diaphragm interposed between. thecover flange and open end of the receptacle and serving as a closure forthe receptacle; a sealed cartridge in the receptacle carryinggasgenerating materials in a separated condition; a plunger mounted in thecover at the side of the diaphragm opposite to the receptacle; anabutment at the side of the diaphragm opposite to the plunger, saidabutment being adapted to be impinged against the cartridge by theplunger and arranged to rupture the cartridge as it is impinged for thepurpose specified.

13. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir to containfire extinguishing liquid and having a discharge outlet; a cartridge tocarry gas generating materials in a separated condition; means torupture the cartridge; and a tubular carrier for said cartridge in thereservoir having a pocket with an outlet from said pocket into thereservoir for the purpose specified.

14. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir to containfire extinguishing liquid and having a discharge outlet; a hermeticallysealed cartridge carrying gas generating materials one within the other;5 means to rupture the cartridge; and a tubular carrier for saidcartridge having means to detachably secure the same to a support in thereservoir, said carrier having an outlet into the reservoir through asiphon tube 120 located in a pocket in the carrier for the purposespecified.

15. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir to containfire extinguishing liquid and having a discharge outlet; a her- 125metically sealed cartridge carrying gas generating materials one withinthe other; means to rupturethe cartridge; and a tubular carrier for saidcartridge having means to detachably secure the same to a support 130 inthe reservoir, said carrier having a pocket in the bottom with aperforated siphon tube therein having the inlet end adjacent and theoutlet end leading through the bottom of the pocket for the purposespecified.

16. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir to containfire extinguishing liquid and having a discharge outlet; a hermeticallysealed cartridge carrying gas generating materials one within the other;an open end receptacle to carry said cartridge having means todetachably secure the same to a support in the reservoir, saidreceptacle having a pocket in the bottom with a perforated siphon tubein the pocket having the inlet end adjacent and the outlet end leadinginto the reservoir through the bottom of the pocket; a plunger mountedin the reservoir to have longitudinal movement and operable from the exterior of the reservoir; and a diaphragm interposed between the open endof the cartridge carrying receptacle and the plunger mounting, saiddiaphragm carrying means operable through the plunger to rupture thecartridge for the purpose specified.

17. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir to containfire extingushing liquid and having a discharge outlet; a hermeticallysealed cartridge carrying gas gen erating materials one within theother; an open end receptacle to carry said cartridge adapted to bedetachably secured to a support in the reservoir and having an outletinto the reservoir; a plunger mounted in the reservoir to havelongitudinal movement and operable from the exterior of the reservoir;and a diaphragm interposed between the open end of the cartridgecarrying receptacle and the plunger and its mounting, said diaphragmcarrying means operable through the plunger to rupture the cartridge forthe purpose specified.

Signed at the city of New York, in the county of New York and Stateof-New York this 18th day of February, 1918.

GEO. T. PEARSONS.

